Bottle carrier



T. W. FOSTER BOTTLE CARRIER Feb. 5, 1952 Filed May 28, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l 71 a Q a l m w a 1 C Z 3 i I i Fig 4.-

//2 van for 7/20/7105! Fosfe Feb. 5, 1952 Filed May 28, 1948 T. w. FOSTER 2,584,689

BOTTLE CARRIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 la 38 lnven i'orr Thomas W. Fosrer di m mfww Feb. 5, 1952 1', w, O E 2,584,689

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed May 28, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet;

Thomas W F057er C MW WV W Feb. 5, 1952 'r. w. osrsn 2,534,539

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed May 28, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1; h I WI -'E- :::;;U 1 1' V I: ,7 Il l n INVENTOR. WWF Z Patented Feb. 5, 1952 orrlcs BOTTLE CARRIEBY Thomas W. Foster, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application May 28, 1948, Serial N0. 29,915

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) This invention relates, generally, to bottle carriers and it has particular relation to such devices for carrying six soft drink bottles or the like. It constitutes an improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed in the copending application Serial No. 20,566, filed April 12. 1948, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide a bottle carrier that can be set up from a one piece paperboard blank and having side walls joined by end flaps to an interior wall at the locations where maximum stress is applied when the carrier is lifted by force applied to the upper edge of the interior wall; to effect the juncture by means other than adhesive means; to employ wire staples for joining the end flaps and the ends of the interior wall; to fold the blank in such manher that external projections are provided at the ends of the container through which the wire staples can be inserted by a conventional stapling or stitching machine; to cut the lower ends of these projections on a bias in order to facilitate entry of a carrier loaded with bottles into a case or the positioning of the loaded carrier on a display rack; to provide a handle for the carrier and attach it to the interior wall so that the lifting force is applied midway between the ends of the two sections forming the interior wall; to provide sumciently large pockets for receiving the ends of the handle formed of wire which will permit its attachment to the carrier without distortion; and to provide for retracting the handle to permit stacklngwhile limiting the distance that the handle can be retracted in a positive manner.

Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

For a ,more complete understanding of the nature and scope of this invention reference can be had to the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a view, in side elevation, of a bottle carrier constructed in accordance with this invention and showing how the handle can be retracted to permit stacking of the carriers when filled with bottles;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, illustrating one manner in which the handle can be attached to the carrier without requiring that the former be distorted;

Figure 4 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing how the handle appears in assembled relation in the carrier;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the carrier in collapsed form with the end flaps being folded in the same direction;

Figure 6 is a view, similar to Figure 5, but showing the end flaps folded in opposite directions;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a one piecepaperboard blank that can be employed in setting up the carrier illustrated in the drawings;

Figures 8 and 9 show successive steps in the setting up of the carrier from the one piece paperboard blank shown in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a view, partly in end elevation and partly in section, illustrating the carrier in set up position with bottles located therein, the bottles being illustrated by broken lines;

Figure 11 illustrates another manner in which the handle can be inserted in the carrier;

Figure 12 is a view, in side elevation, of the carrier in the refolded condition with the handle leftin; and

Figure 13 is a view, in side elevation, showi;ig V a modification of the pocket construction for receiving the handle.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 7 of the drawings, it will be noted that the refei ence character l0 designates, generally, a carrier which may be set up from a one piece paperboard blank that is indicated, generally, at Ii in Figure 7. When the carrier i0 is set up it provides six spaces [2 for receiving bottles l3, Figure 2, which are typical of soft drink bottles now used in large numbers. The carrier Ill includes side walls II and a two section interior wall that is indicated, generally, at iii in Figure 1,- each section being made up of two panels I 6, Figure 7, which are joined along score lines H. The carrier i0 is arranged to be supported by a handle which, as will appear hereinafter, is arranged to apply lifting force underneath the score lines ll so that the entire weight is supported from the two section interior wall l5.

The panels iii are joined to the side walls H by end flaps ill, the junctures being along score lines [9 and 20 as shown in Figure '7.

An important feature of the present invenhon resides in the attachment of the end flaps IS in the outer ends of the two section interior wall i 5 ilivshich, it will be recalled, is made up of the panels The end flaps it have portions 2! along their outer edges which are joined along score lines 22 to the end flaps I8. The portions 2|, when the carrier I0 is set up as shown in Figures 1 and 2, overlie the corresponding portions of the panels It whichmahe up the 16 so as to provide four thicknesses of cardboard two section interior wall stock and to form projections extending from tho end flaps it which comprise the end walls of the carrier IO.

1 as will appear hereinafter, permit These portions or projections II. the application the veto of fastening means which holds. the car.:ier ll in the set up condition.

the lower edges of the side walls N are joined together by a bottom 28. One of the side walls It has a glue flap 25 separated therefrom-along a score line 26 and it isiarranged to be fastened therefrom along the score lines II. The dividers 28 and extensions as are. separated from the adjacent longitudinal portions of the side walls It and end flaps It by cut lines SI. In addition a out line 3| separates the side walls ll from each other and also the dividers 28 from each other. This construction provides extensions 32 from the side walls It which are continuous with the dividers 28 along the score lines it. Since the extensions 29 fold over the upper edges of the panels I. along thescore lines H to provide-a double thickness of paperboard for reenforcing the carrier ill at this point where the handle is applied, the extensions 29 have score lines ll along which they are folded in the manner described when the carrier ll is set up. Openings 35 are provided at the junctures of the panels I and end flaps It, as shown in Figure 'l, which have circular end portions and straight intermediate portions to provide for accommodating the handle and for positioning it-so that the lifting force applied thereby to the carrier II is directed intermediate the ends of the sections making up the interior wall II.

Another feature of the present invention is that the lower ends of the portions or projections II are bevelled or cut at a bias as indicated at 36 in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. One purpose of this configuration is to facilitate the entry of a loaded carrier Ill into a case or carton which is arranged to hold several, for examplefour, of the loaded carriers "I. Since the portions or extensions 2| are cut on the bias 88 at their lower ends, the loaded carrier II is guided into the case or carton automatically and it is unnecessary for the end walls formed by the end flaps I! to be held parallel or moved inwardly in order to clear the walls of the case or carton. This construction also permits the loaded carrier ill to be mounted on the rods of a display. rack, the rods being located underneath the lower edges 36 of the portions or projections 2| as will be understood readily. Z

As shown in Figure 1 the bottom 23 may be joined to the glue flap 25 by a suitable adhesive- 31. Itwill be understood also that the flap 25 can be secured to the adjacent edge of the bottomls by other means such as by stitching. stapling or the like.

As indicated hereinbefore, the portions or projections 2| are arranged to receive fastening means. This fastening means preferably is in t form of wire staples. which, as shown in Figure 1, extend through the four thicknesses of paperboard stock D vided' portions of the panels together make up tions of which include the portions 2| previously described. It will be noted that the staples ll are positioned in the projections at. points just below the upper edges of theend flaps It. It is at this pointthat the greatest stress is applied to the carrier Ill when the liftingforce is applied to the interior wall I! along its upper edge.'

The wire staples 3| constitute-the only meanswhich holds the panels I. in juxtaposed relation.

Accordingly, except for the staples 3! the juxta v posed portions of At their upper edges they provide pockets a the panels I! are unattached.

which are arranged to receive intumed ends ll of a handle ll in the form of a generally rectangular ball of wire. The sides of the handle II are provided with stepped portions I which are arranged to engage the upper surfaces of the extensions 20 and thereby limit the amount that the handle ll can be retracted into the carrier ll.- This is illustrated in Flgure '2 where the.

handle ll is shown in the retracted position to permit the stacking of the loaded carriers I. one above the other. The extremities of the inturned ends 40 are turned back as indicated at ll in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings and cooperate with the adjacent surfaces of the panels It to hold the handle ll in the upright position.

The handle 4! can be assembled with the car- 7 rier i0 without distortion.- For example. as

shown in Figure 3, after the carrier Ills-set up, the sections making up the interior wall I! can be positioned the ends 40 is located in the adjacent pocket ll while the other end is spaced slightly therefrom. Thereafter, the sections are moved apart to the position shown in Figure 4 where the other end of the handle ll is positioned inside of the other pocket 39. In the set up position of the carrier with the handle 4| in place, it will be understood that it serves toprevent the sections of the interior wall I! from moving apart. The'lengths of the openings 35 are proportionedso that the handle 4i can be made of a width such that. when in place as shown in Figure 4, the lifting force is applied thereby to the two sections of .the interior wall I! substantially midway between their ends. This then provides a balanced construction and a more uniform distribution of stress throughout the carrier it. This is of particular importance when it is recalled that the carrier i0 is formed from a one piece blank of paperboard II and that it is likely to tear if subjected to too great stress. Thus. by distributing more uniformly the stress applied by the handle ll to the carrier III the life of the latter is materially prolonged.

Ordinarily the carrier II is set up as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and-4 of the drawings and shipped or stored minus the handle ll. As shown in Figure 5, the carrier Hi can be collapsed by moving the side walls It toward the interior wall I! with the end flaps is being folded in the same direction. Alternatively, when the end flaps I! are folded in opposite directions as shown in Figure 6 a slightly longer package results but it is somewhat thinner than that illustrated in Figure 5. In either of the collapsed conditions as shown in Figures 5 and 6 the bottom 2! is folded outwardly along the score line 21.

In Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. thereare illustrated the steps which may be followed in setting up the carrier ll. The panels I first the overlapping I6 and end flaps ll which" the projections the outer porin overlapping relation. One of a aeeaeea tions 2i and the carrier III is complete. It can then be packed away for storage or shipment. The handle ll can be applied in the manner described and the carrier ill is then ready to receive bottles I! as shown in Figure 10.

The construction of the carrier III is such that,

when it is filled with bottles l3 and picked up by the handle ll, the bottles 13 are frictionally gripped at their lower ends and, as shown in Figure ID, the bottom 23 is bowed downwardly slightly. Thus the weight of the bottles I! is not applied to or carried by the bottom 23 except along its edges where it is joined to the side walls N. This is important since the bottom 23 may become weakened as a result of moisture dripping thereon which is caused by sweating of the bottles l3.

Instead of assembling the handle 4| with the carrier ID in the manner shown in Figure 3 and described hereinbefore, it can be assembled therewith, as shown in Figure 11, without requiring that the sections of the wall l5 be moved past each other. In order to do this, one end of the handle ll can be inserted in one of the pockets 39 at such an angle that the other end of the handle 4| clears the outer edge of the other pocket 39. Thereafter the handle 4| can be rocked so that the other end can be inserted in the other pocket 39 without in any way distorting the handle ll. This assembly of the handle 4| is permitted since the panels [6 are not joined together except by the wire staples 38.

As illustrated in Figure 12, the carrier It] can be refolded with the handle 4| left in and retracted to the extent permitted by the stepped portions 42. It is desirable to do this for storage purposes after the empty bottles which have been returned in the carrier ill have been removed therefrom. When refolded in this manner the end flaps I! are folded in the same direction as shown in Figure 5.

The panels l6, when employed in the widths shown, form a double thickness wall 15. A single thickness only is required for the lower portion of the wall I 5 and, accordingly, the lower portion of one panel I 6 of each pair of panels at each end of the blank II can be cut away if desired, the upper double thickness portion being retained in each case against which the inturned ends 40 of the handle 4| react.

In Figure 13 of the drawings there is illustrated at 39' a modification of the pocket construction for receiving the ends 40 of the handle I. As there shown, an upper edge ll of one of the extensions 29 is straight as is also the corresponding edge of the adjacent portion of the corresponding panel I6 while the upper edge 45 of the other extension 29 is curved and likewise the corresponding edge of the adjacent portion of the panel l6 individual thereto. The higher portion bounded by the edge 44 serves to guide the reverse bend 43 of each end of the handle 4| into position in the pocket 39' and reduces the likelihood of its being inserted between one of the extensions 29 and the adjacent panel It with the result that only one thickness rather than two would be subjected to the stress applied by the inturned end 40.

Since certain changes can be made in the foregoing construction and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A bottle carrier comprising a paperboard carrier set up from a one piece blink and having side walls. flaps extending from the ends of said side walls, a two section interior wall midway between said side walls and each section being formed by folding the paperboard along the upper wall edge thereby providing handle receiving pockets, said flaps intersecting said interior wall near its ends and overlying the same to form therewith a multi-layer projection at each end, a wire staple extending through each projection near the upper edges of the flaps forming the same for securing them to said interior wall, and a bottom joiningthe lower edges of said side walls and having no connection to said interior wall; and a wire handle having inturned ends interfltting with said pockets for lifting said carrier, the ends of said handle being retractable in said pockets whereby the same can be lowered to a position below the bottle tops to permit stacking, said handle restraining said sections of said interior wall against movement apart.

2. A paperboard bottle carrier comprising side walls, an interior wall midway between said side walls formed in two sections each comprising two panels folded together along a fold line at their upper edges to provide two thicknesses of paperboard, end fiaps respectively attached at their outer ends to the ends of said side walls extending therefrom inward to the outer ends of said interior wall panels and attached thereto by elements defined by spaced fold lines paralleling said interior wall panels, said elements seating on the outer faces of said interior wall panels and being attached at their,inner edges to the inner ends of said end flaps, said elements and the corresponding portions of said interior wall panels being secured together providing reinforcing elements at the outer ends of the interior wall comprising four thicknesses of paperboard, dividers joining each side wall and said interior wall and having extensions along and overlying said interior wall providing therewith two thicknesses of paperboard along the upper edge of the end portions of said interior wall, a bottom wall connecting said side walls, and a substantially rigid handle disposed to contact the outer ends of said sections of said interior wall effective for restraining them against movement apart, said handle having inwardly directed elements inserted in the ends of said interior wall for lifting and transporting said carrier.

3. A paperboard bottle carrier comprising side walls, an interior wall between said side walls formed in two sections each comprising two panels folded-together along a fold line at their upper edges, end flaps respectively attached at their outer ends to the ends of said side walls and attached at their inner ends to the outer ends of said panels, said panels of each section of said interior wall being secured together, a bottom wall connecting said side walls, and a substantially rigid handle disposed to contact the outer ends of said sections of said interior wall effective for restraining them against movement assess:

1 apart, said handle having inwardly directed ele- 1 wall attached atone edge to the outer edge of one 0! said side walls, two end flaps attached at their inner ends to the ends of said side walls, two panels at each end of said blank connected to- ..gethe'r at their'transverse inner edges along a told line disposed in alignment with the inner edges of said side walls, the inner ends of said panels being connected to the outer ends of said end flaps'by relatively narroiv elements paralleling the outer ends of said end flaps, dividers extending inwardly from the ends of said side walls atltheinnerqedge portions thereof. ,and extenesions' attached at their inner ends to the outer ends of. said dividers. at. each end 0! said side walls and attached at their outer ends to the inher edges of said elements, said extensions res'pectively having spaced parallel lengthwise told lines extending from their inner ends disposed. at opposite sides of the inner edges of said side THOMAS W.

assurances crrsn The following references are of record in the tile 0! this patent:

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